Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) hands the ball off to wide receiver Eric Decker (87) during practice Friday, Jan. 31, 2014, in Florham Park, N.J. The Broncos are scheduled to play the Seattle ... more

Photo: Mark Humphrey

Building teams differently

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Jersey City, N.J.

Two years ago, a pair of middling NFL franchises entered another off-season that promised, well, probably nothing too exciting.

Denver had gone 8-8 in three of its past five years. In the other two, it was 7-9 and 4-12. Receiving help from a terrible division and Tim Tebow, the .500 Broncos did qualify for the 2011 playoffs.

That year, Seattle missed the playoffs at 7-9 (although, like Denver, they made the postseason and even won a game with a 7-9 mark in 2010). From 2008-11, the Seahawks were 18-41, seemingly reverting to their 1990s form.

The climb to the Super Bowl has been quick, though not unprecedented. Here's how it happened for Denver and Seattle:

The big signing

We start with the Pursuit of Peyton because, let's face it, Manning's 5,477 yards and 55 touchdowns are at least 68.3 percent of the reason Denver is here (that number, by the way, was his completion percentage — only good for third in the league).

On March 19, 2012, the Broncos had arguably the league's worst starting quarterback. On March 20, they had arguably the best of all-time. It's usually unfair to oversimplify, but any team with Peyton Manning is a playoff team. He's only missed the postseason twice — in his rookie year, 1998, and in 2001.

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Free agent finds

So where did Seattle spend its money?

The team reportedly signed Marshawn Lynch to a four-year, $31 million extension in early March 2012. The Seahawks also opened the bank for Matt Flynn, awarding the Packers backup quarterback a reported $26 million deal. He attempted nine passes in a Seattle uniform.

But the big splash in free agency wasn't necessary in Seattle: Cornerback Brandon Browner, suspended indefinitely for violating the league's substance abuse policy, was a bargain in 2011. Starting defensive end Cliff Avril signed for a modest $13 million over two years. The team also has 21 undrafted free agents, notably wide receiver Doug Baldwin (signed in 2011).

The truth is, Seattle hasn't added many new pieces since its 7-9 campaign two years ago. The entire starting secondary has been with the team since 2011, as have four starters on the offensive line. This has been a classic case of player development.

No team in the league has hit in the middle and late rounds like Seattle.

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. gave the Seahawks the best draft grade in 2010, an epic class that netted them starting tackle Russell Okung and Pro Bowl safety Earl Thomas in the first round, starting receiver Golden Tate in the second, nickelback Walter Thurmond in the third and All-Pro safety Kam Chancellor in the fifth.

In 2011, Kiper graded the Seattle draft as a D+, last in the NFL. He wrote, "The Seahawks made some sensible picks in the secondary, but at what impact that late?" Byron Maxwell, a sixth rounder, is now starting at corner. And the fifth-round pick? That would be Richard Sherman.

Of course, Denver had already signed Manning, so even if it spent that pick on Wilson, he'd be holding a clipboard right now.

Instead, he'll lead Seattle against Manning and the top offense in NFL history. And most of Manning's weapons were acquired though the draft, prior to his arrival. Demaryius Thomas was the first wideout taken in 2010. He's now, as Sherman said, "a top-five receiver." The Broncos then nabbed Eric Decker in the third round. He has 33 career touchdowns. The seven other receivers drafted in the third round that year have combined for 44.

Throw in 2011 fourth-round pick Julius Thomas, a matchup nightmare at tight end, and Denver set up Manning perfectly before he even got there.